It’s Thursday! Roll on this evening when the Grumpies come in the Shinty Bar for a well earned drink and to sort the world out!

In the mean time, next time you look at a Guest Information folder in your hotel room, please spare a thought for me. I am trying to organise new ones for the hotel and it is a mine field. Do you have this type of cover, these fixings, those pockets and how many pockets… I may be joining the Grumpies drinking on the other side of the bar tonight!

Christine

]]>The Bats of Polphail Villagehttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/the-bats-of-polphail-village/
Mon, 20 Nov 2017 16:23:49 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=6651Polphail Village at Portavadie was constructed to house workers for the then booming oil industry at Portavadie in the 1970s. The oil terminal there was abandoned and the houses soon fell into a state of dilapidation. They were never occupied.

The village made the news in 2009 when art collective Agents of Change used it as a canvas for some stunning graffiti art with haunting representations of people, faces and abstract designs. Sadly, the works of art are now gone Although as the village was completely demolished in 2016.

Polphail, however, is not completely abandoned. Hundreds of bats took up residence in the old houses and, prior to the last demolishing of the buildings, a new custom built roost was required to be built by law. Businessman Sandy Bulloch, who owns the land, spent £20,000 creating the roost complete with heating for the protected species.

Wildlife lovers often visit the area in the hope of seeing the bats who really add to the atmosphere of the place especially around the nearby standing stones.

]]>Dining at Royal an Lochanhttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/dining-at-royal-an-lochan/
Tue, 17 Oct 2017 08:26:07 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=6575We’ve sought out the best suppliers of meat, fish, and garden produce on Scotland’s west coast. Our seasonal menus showcase our celebrated seafood including langoustines, mussels and scallops all perfectly cooked to bring out their vibrant, natural flavours.

All our dishes are hand-prepared from scratch and have earned us the reputation as one of the best restaurants in Argyll to enjoy Scottish food.

]]>Walking and Hill Climbing in the Areahttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/walking-and-hill-climbing-in-the-area/
Sat, 12 Aug 2017 14:52:18 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=6548Cowal and Argyll are unbeatable for choice of walking and climbing options.

]]>A Day’s Fishing on Loch Fynehttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/a-days-fishing-on-loch-fyne/
Tue, 25 Jul 2017 13:15:35 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=6296The waters around The Royal an Lochan are alive at this time of year and offer a large range of fish species for anglers. For most, a short walk to Tighnabruaich Pier will serve up a bucket full of Mackerel. Using some light gear and a multi hook rig is always the most fun as the Mackerel average about 1lb and fight hard.

Cod and Pollack caught from the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll.

For others, the harder fighting, Pollack are the target of choice. Pollack are a great sport fish as they fight hard and can easily grow to around 15lb, to target the biggest Pollack you will need a boat and knowledge of the reef areas in the deep water. However, shore fishing will often deliver you a 5 – 8 pounder (and believe me, if you hook one of these on light gear you will know about it). Fishing in and around sea walls and weed you will undoubtedly be rewarded. Fishing from deeper seawalls and at a lower depth may even serve up a cod (winter months are always more productive for cod).

There are a huge range of fish to target in Loch Fyne and the Kyles of Bute but the harder fighting Mackerel and Pollack are the most fun and you don’t have to wander far to find them.

Fishing at Portavadie

A beautiful sunset rounds off a great days fishing on Loch Fyne.

I recently went for a day’s fishing at Portavadie Marina (from the break-water at the head of the marina). My day started out well, as I tried a multi hook feather rig with a 4oz weight and my second cast pulled up two fine Pollack both weighing around 2lb. These both hit as I was on the final turn of a slow retrieve. I soon pulled up five more of similar size and in roughly the same area of my retrieve so I decided to change my rig to a larger hook size (size 5/0) triple hook and teamed it with a 45g silver metal fish casting lure, this would (hopefully) keep the smaller Pollack away and attracted the larger ones. After around an hour and a half and two cups of tea from my flask I finally got a big strike and a hard fight, whatever was on my line started heading straight to the bank of weed that I had been avoiding all day. I eventually managed to tire the fish and once it came out of the water I could see that it was a, healthy, 4lb Pollack that liked to fight!

The afternoon went on with a few smaller Pollack, Mackerel and even a small dogfish. As always, once my flask was empty it was time to pack up the gear and head home.

Celebrating 70 years since she first took to the water, Waverley is the iconic sea-going paddle steamer and is the last of its kind in the world. Every year this beautifully restored passenger vessel returns to treat passengers old a nd new the chance to step aborad and tour Scotland’s magnificent west coast scenery from its unique on-the-water perspective.

You can join the other passengers by relaxing on deck in the summer sun while you soak up the views or chill in one of the period lounges as the paddle steamer cruises sedately through the dramatic sea lochs of the west coast of Scotland including the Kyles of Bute right on the Royal an Lochan’s doorstep.

Paddle Steamer Waverley at Tighnabruaich on the Kyles of Bute

Tarbert and Loch Fyne Cruises

During the summer months the Waverley cruises through the world famous Kyles of Bute and visits the exquisite village of Tighnabruaich. Stopping at Tighnabruaich you can take a short, scenic stroll from Tighnabruaich pier into the village where you can browse through antiques, charity and gift shops as well as visiting the Tig Gallery with its superb selection of Scottish art.

Alternatively, you can visit the harbour village of Tarbert for 2 hours ashore or cruise Loch Fyne towards Adrishaig.

Weekly Waverley Sailings from Tighnabruaich

Waverley sails from Tighnabruaich Pier throughout the summer taking visitors around the beautiful Scottish west coast and sea lochs.

]]>Sea Otters Sighting at Tighnabruaichhttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/sea-otters-sighting-at-tighnabruaich/
Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:48:38 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=4635From the Royal an Lochan’s vantage point right on the shores of the Kyles of Bute we very often see a wonderful variety of wildlife.

Sea otters on the beach at Tighnabruaich, Kyles of Bute, Argyll seen from the Royal an Lochan Hotel.

Sometimes it’s seals popping their heads inquisitively out of the water or coming ashore to the beach to bask in the sun or herons fly down from the hill lochs to stalk and catch some fish at the water’s edge.

Recently, whilst enjoying a relaxing coffee in the hotel, we had the rare chance to spot some very elusive sea otters. They just appeared out of nowhere and on the rocks right in front of us tucked into something they’d caught for a snack.

We’re so lucky to have such an abundance of wildlife in the area which regularly provides some free entertainment for our guests.

]]>Visit Scotland Award for The Royal an Lochanhttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/visit-scotland-award-for-the-royal-an-lochan/
Thu, 22 Sep 2016 11:47:40 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=4487We are always striving to maintain and improve our hotel and our guests’ comfort and enjoyment whilst staying here. Well we have great news …………

We have once again retained our Visit Scotland 3 Star grading!

Out of 51 areas inspected we received an amazing 30 at 3 Star and an even more amazing 21 at 4 Star!!
We owe an awful lot of this to our hard working, friendly and professional staff without whom we would not exist at 3 Star level let alone edging towards 4 Star.

Thank you everyone for your continued support.

]]>Porpoise Sightings At Tighnabruaichhttp://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/blog/porpoise-sightings-at-tighnabruaich/
Thu, 21 Jul 2016 11:37:36 +0000http://www.theroyalanlochan.co.uk/?p=4217The Whale and Dolphin Trust recent sightings calendar shows that quite a few Harbour Porpoise have been regularly spotted in the Kyles of Bute at Tighnabruaich over the summer.

These amazing marine mammals are very like dolphins although much smaller and while dolphins can also be seen surfacing and jumping out of the water here at Tighnabruaich it is rare that porpoises will ever jump out of he water. Instead they are much more sedate and prefer to gently break the surface so all that is visible is their backs and dorsal fins.

One of the beauties of the Royal an Lochan’s location right on the shore at Tighnabruaich is that guests at the hotel can watch not only porpoises but dolphins, seals, herons from the Lounge, Breakfast Dining Room and Restaurant or if they are sitting enjoying drinks on the patio at the front of the hotel.